James Lynch (R), candidate for Alderman in Ward 4

Oct. 22, 2013

Written by

James Lynch

1: The professional experience I possess that is most relevant to the duties of Alderman relates to my career as a certified public accountant. Over the last 29 years I have assisted and advised hundreds of businesses in their efforts to operate efficiently and profitably. This experience should prove invaluable to Boonton's taxpayers as I work to review operations to see how we can cut costs while still providing the level of service that our residents are accustomed to. I've already targeted the outdated practice of providing full family health benefits for our PART TIME elected officials. By publicizing this issue, I sparked a public outrage that resulted in two candidates being defeated and a third deciding, after 18 years in office, that this practice was not in the taxpayers' best interest. Although there are still PART TIME elected officials receiving these lucrative benefits and I have yet to be elected, I am proud to say that my efforts have already produced savings in excess of $100,000.

2: I have chosen to run for office because I'd like to make a positive contribution to town. I have previously served in executive positions for a number of Boonton based volunteer organizations and am now able to take on the increased demands of public office. While attempting to get a problem addressed I encountered negativity, delays and excuses. Encountering that mind set, I realized the residents of Boonton deserved better. I have been in a service industry for my entire career, the last 19 years in my own business. I have succeeded because my clients demand solutions to their problems, not excuses, and I've been able to deliver.

3: The two complaints I hear most from residents relate to the high rate of our property taxes and the cost of our water utility charges. By striving to bring Business Sense to Boonton I hope to impact these two complaints. It is my intention to complete my goal of ending the town's outdated practice of providing health benefits to our elected officials and some part time employees. This should free up some of the town's limited financial resources so they can be used for the benefit of our entire town instead of just a select few. I intend to review the municipal and water utility operations to uncover inefficiencies and opportunities for cost savings through out sourcing and sharing of services. I have spent my career performing similar tasks and am now able to put my experience to work for Boonton's taxpayers.

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4: There are a number of differences between myself and my opponent. To begin with, I have lived in Boonton for almost 20 years and, since 1995, have operated my accounting firm here in town. My opponent moved to Boonton from Mt. Lakes only three years ago, yet his campaign literature suggests he has been a resident for 20 years. Clearly, I have a greater familiarity with the town's operations and the concerns of its residents.

Perhaps the greatest difference between the two of us is that with my professional experience as a CPA, I am far better equipped than my opponent, who is an attorney, to address the financial issues that most concern our residents .

Finally, there seems to be a difference in our principles and tactics. I know nothing of my opponent nor have I seen him attend any town meetings in the last two years. I have focused my campaign on issues raised by the residents, my professional experience, my targeting of the outdated health insurance practice, and what steps I plan to take to address and control town spending. My opponent, on the other hand, has provided only vague claims of why he should be elected and has proposed to raise the tax levy for the majority of our residents to subsidize the property taxes of our senior citizens, an issue already addressed at the state level by both the Property Tax Rebate and Property Tax Freeze programs. Rather than provide concrete plans, he has instead chosen to create negatives. He has labeled me a "disingenuous hypocrite" because, as the spouse of a FULL TIME town employee, I was formerly provided health coverage, yet fails to mention that his wife has had a long career in the public sector and likely was the source of his family's health coverage. He also claims that I am running with a hidden agenda and a conflict of interest because the issue that first brought me before our town government, and one that I will have no voice or vote on when elected, still has not been addressed. Quite frankly if he had adequate qualifications, relevant experience or a real platform he would focus on that.